Balance-book and index



UNITED STATES Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SAMMO NS, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

BALANCE-BOOK AND INDEX.

SPEGIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,864, dated February 23, 1904,

Application filed October 10, 1903.

To wZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SAMMoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, (whose post-oflice address is Sioux City, Iowa,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Balance-Books and Indexes and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in balance-books and indexes, and is designed more especially for use in banks to show in alphabetical order the daily balances of customers.

One object of my invention is to provide a page which may be used in combination with either sheets or cards containing the names and balances and in connection with an adding-machine, type-writer, or pen. Each page of the book has guides and retaining devices which are adapted to hold either sheets inserted vertically and on which the names are printed and the balances entered by an adding-machine or horizontal strips on which the names are entered by type writer or pen. The sheets are most conveniently used in connection with an adding-machine which enters the various balances and their totals on a sepa: rate sheet; but where an adding-machine is not used the cards or short strips are the most convenient, the balances being entered by typewriter or pen and may be easily removed and new ones inserted as the account changes.

My invention permits the use of either sheets or cards with the same retaining devices.

The invention consists in the novelty of construction and combination of elements hereinafter described, and specifically designated in the claims.

I have fully illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention shown in connection with strips inserted horizontally with the page. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing retaining devices used in connection with strips sprung into them. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, except that sheets vertically inserted are shown in place of strips. Fig. 4

Serial No- 176,516. .(No model.)

is a perspective view of retaining device shown in the center ofFig. 1 and in the center and' at the left margins of Figs. 2 and 3. n Fig. 5 is a side view of retaining device'seen at the margins of Fig. 1 and at the right-hand margins of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is an end view of retaining device shown at the right-hand margins of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 7 is an end view of retaining device shown at the left margins of Fig. 2 and 3. Fig. 8 is an end View of retaining device shown in the center of Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring now to the illustrations, in which like parts are designated by similar lettersof reference, A A A designate. the plain leaf or page of the book.

B B B are the cards or strips containing the names arranged alphabetically, and C C C the cards containing the various balances.

D is the sheet inserted vertically between the retaining devices and contains the names, while D is another sheet inserted parallel with the sheet D and contains the balances, usually entered by means of an adding-machine.

E E E are retaining devices which may be secured to the page either near the center to divide the page into columns or at the margin, and consists of a narrow strip of tin or other suitable material having a zigzag indentation E extending through the center, the points of deflection forming equal obtuse angles on both sides of the line or indentation. The strips are vertically secured to the page, as shown in the drawings, with the indented part next to the leaf, which leaves spaces between the leaves and the flat part ofthe strips. The

of retaining device is shown in connection with another form F, which also permits the use of either sheets or cards, or the sheet may be used in one column to contain the names, while I to separate the two columns, while the form F I V v is secured to the page at the margins. In Figs. 2 and 3 this form is used only at the right-hand margin. It consists of a narrow piece of tin or other suitable material having a series of narrow horizontal indentations f f f, which extend about two-thirds across the piece. These indentations are distant from each other about the width of the cards and by raising the strip away from the page form guides for holding the cards in place. The cards are inserted between the indentations from the margin of the page, as shown in Fig.

1 and at the right-hand margin of Fig. 2. Along the center-of the piece is another series of smaller indentations ff f, parallel with and situated between the former, but formed by cutting two short parallel slots in the piece and pressing out the intervening material. These indentations are not so deep as the others and being situated so as to press upon the ends of the cards after their insertion tend to hold the cards firmly in place. At the lower end of each of the strips E and F are indentations f f of the same form as those last described, except that they extend vertically on the strips in order to press against the sheets D and D to hold them firmly in place after being inserted. The center strips E E have such indentationson each side of the indented line E, while the stripsat the margins have them only on the inner edge over the spaces where the sheets or cards are inserted.

The retaining-strips can be made of celluloid, aluminium, or the like, and one form only or either form in combination with the other may be used to suit the convenience. In the drawings I have represented only one leaf and but few names in order to prevent unneccessary repetition; but it 'is plain that any number of leaves of any size or modification of form may be used.

The principal advantage of my invention is a simple construction, which not only keeps all accounts and their balances in alphabetical order at .all times in plain view, but is of equal utility whether used with an adding-machine or without.

secured thereto consisting of narrow strips having central zigzag indentations adjacent to the leaf, the points of deflection in said indented part forming equal obtuse angles on both sides of the line of indentation for the reception of cards, the ends. of said cards being shaped to fit the angles of the indented part, and the flat part of said strips forming guides for the retention of sheets, substantially as described.

2. In a balance-book, vertical retaining devices secured thereto consisting of strips having central zigzag indentations adjacent to the leaf, the points of deflection in said indented part forming equal obtuse angles for the reception of cards, in combination with other vertical strips having a series of indentations formed by cutting-parallel slots in the strips and pressing out the intervening material and I adapted to press upon the cards at the ends,

substantially as described.

3. A balance-book having leaves divided into vertical columns by retaining devices secured thereto, narrow strips with central zigzag indentations adjacent to the leaf, the points of deflection in said indented part forming equal obtuse angles on both sides of the line of indentation, in combination with indentations at the ends of said strips formed by cutting parallel slots in the strips longitudinally with the strips and pressing out the intervening material, adapted to press upon the edge of the sheets inserted underneath said strips, substantially as'described.

In witness whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. SAMMONS.

Witnesses:

F. G. GATE, P. E. ATTICK. 

